Bucheon festival brings comics to life with global cosplay, community fun

Bucheon hosted the opening day of the 29th Bucheon International Comics Festival on Friday around the Korea Manhwa Museum in Gyeonggi Province. The three-day event runs through Sunday under the theme Comics and Webtoons: Easy to Love, Endless to Enjoy. Opening-day attractions included global cosplay competitions, volunteer-led craft booths, and interactive community programs. The festival also features exhibitions, talks and hands-on activities tied to comics and webtoons.

The Gyeonggi International Cosplay Festival side event is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

The cosplay competition featured 15 teams from 14 countries, including Italy, Spain, Vietnam and Indonesia.

One exhibition, Connection, marks the 30th anniversary of the International Comic Artist Conference by highlighting Asian comic history.

The festival also includes talks with creators from Korea and France to celebrate 140 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Published Sep 19, 2026 12:00 pm KST

Dressed as characters from James Cameron's movie "Avatar," members of the Korean team parade down the red carpet to warm cheers from the crowd during the Gyeonggi International Cosplay Festival, held as part of the 29th Bucheon International Comics Festival at the Korea Manhwa Museum in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, Friday. Korea Times photo by Baek Byung-yeul

BUCHEON, Gyeonggi Province — The area around the Korea Manhwa Museum in Bucheon turned into a lively celebration of pop culture on Friday as colorful comic panels came to life for the opening day of the 29th Bucheon International Comics Festival.

Running through Sunday under the theme "Comics & Webtoons: Easy to Love, Endless to Enjoy," the annual three-day event kicked off with a rich mix of global cosplay competitions, interactive community programs and passionate fans bringing their favorite characters into reality.

Friday's opening day offered a rich variety of experiences, drawing families, international visitors and dedicated pop culture enthusiasts.

Inside the museum, local volunteers warmly greeted young visitors at hands-on craft booths, guiding children as they decorated everyday items like keyboards and hand mirrors with cartoon characters.

"We joined the festival as volunteers out of a shared passion as Bucheon residents to promote our city's signature cultural identity," a local volunteer said.

"At first, seeing all the cosplayers felt a bit unfamiliar. But seeing how passionately they express their love for the stories they adore and how they bring that energy to our city moved us deeply. We are proud to be here supporting such a meaningful event."

Cosplayers and visitors enjoy the 29th Bucheon International Comics Festival at the Korea Manhwa Museum in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, Friday. Korea Times photo by Baek Byung-yeul

The festival grounds were filled with cosplayers in colorful costumes, creating a lively and exciting mood for the opening day. For many attendees, the event was a rare chance to truly express themselves.

"I have been cosplaying since I was in middle school because I love the transformative feeling it gives me," said a cosplayer in her 20s, who dressed as a mobile game character.

"Even though my costume isn't strictly from a traditional comic, an event of this scale is one of the few places where I can freely wear these outfits and wigs in real life. It helps me discover another side of myself."

While praising the festival's preparations, such as dedicated zones for cosplayers, she also shared constructive hopes for the future.

"The facilities are well organized, but the museum space itself hasn't changed much over the years. I hope to see the venue evolve further to offer fresh visual experiences for returning visitors."

Members of the Greek team walk down the red carpet in costume during the Gyeonggi International Cosplay Festival, held on the sidelines of the 29th Bucheon International Comics Festival at the Korea Manhwa Museum in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, Friday. Korea Times photo by Baek Byung-yeul

A major highlight of the opening day was the Gyeonggi International Cosplay Festival event, a popular side event now celebrating its 10th anniversary. The competition showcased 15 teams from 14 countries, including Italy, Spain, Vietnam and Indonesia. They earned enthusiastic applause from the crowd.

The global nature of the contest resonated deeply with multicultural residents here. A Vietnamese woman living in Korea, who attended the event with her children, cheered warmly as the team from her home country took the stage.

"Seeing participants from Vietnam take part in the event made me feel so proud and delighted," she said. "My children and I had a wonderful time cheering them on together."

Members of the Vietnamese team parade down the red carpet to warm cheers from the crowd during the Gyeonggi International Cosplay Festival, held as part of the 29th Bucheon International Comics Festival at the Korea Manhwa Museum in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, Friday. Korea Times photo by Baek Byung-yeul

Running through Sunday, the festival features a comprehensive lineup of international exchanges, specialized exhibitions and public programs.

Key highlights include the "Connection" exhibition, which celebrates the 30th anniversary of the International Comic Artist Conference by highlighting Asian comic history, and a themed exhibition highlighting martial arts comics. Celebrating 140 years of diplomatic relations between Korea and France, the festival also hosts talks featuring creators from both nations.

Beyond the exhibitions, visitors can enjoy interactive zones, outdoor comic cafes, busking performances and an array of hands-on activities.

第29届富川国际漫画节于周五在京畿道韩国漫画博物馆附近开幕。为期三天的漫画节将持续至周日，主题为“漫画与网络漫画：易于喜爱，乐趣无穷”。开幕日活动包括全球角色扮演大赛、志愿者手工艺品摊位和互动社区项目。此外，漫画节还举办与漫画和网络漫画相关的展览、讲座和体验活动。

京畿国际Cosplay节的附属活动今年迎来10周年纪念。

本次角色扮演比赛共有来自 14 个国家的 15 支队伍参赛，其中包括意大利、西班牙、越南和印度尼西亚。

其中一个名为“连接”的展览，以亚洲漫画历史为主题，纪念国际漫画艺术家大会成立 30 周年。

此次电影节还包括与来自韩国和法国的创作者的对话，以庆祝两国建交140周年。

发布于2026年9月19日韩国时间下午12:00

周五，在京畿道富川市韩国漫画博物馆举行的第29届富川国际漫画节期间，韩国代表队成员身着詹姆斯·卡梅隆电影《阿凡达》中的角色服装，走过红毯，赢得观众的热烈欢呼。照片由《韩国时报》白炳烈拍摄。

京畿道富川市——周五，富川韩国漫画博物馆周围地区变成了一个热闹的流行文化庆典场所，色彩缤纷的漫画画面栩栩如生地呈现在观众面前，标志着第29届富川国际漫画节的开幕。

一年一度的为期三天的活动以“漫画与网络漫画：易于喜爱，乐趣无穷”为主题，持续到周日。活动以丰富的全球角色扮演比赛、互动社区项目以及热情粉丝将他们最喜欢的角色变为现实的活动拉开帷幕。

周五的开幕日提供了丰富多彩的体验，吸引了家庭游客、国际游客和忠实的流行文化爱好者。

在博物馆内，当地志愿者在动手工艺摊位热情地迎接年轻的参观者，指导孩子们用卡通人物装饰键盘、手镜等日常用品。

一位当地志愿者说：“我们作为富川市居民，怀着共同的热情，以志愿者的身份参加了这个节日，想要推广我们城市的特色文化。”

“起初，看到这么多cosplay爱好者，感觉有点不熟悉。但看到他们如此热情地表达对所喜爱故事的热爱，并将这份热情带到我们的城市，深深地打动了我们。我们很荣幸能在这里支持这样一场意义非凡的活动。”

周五，在京畿道富川市的韩国漫画博物馆，角色扮演者和游客们正在欣赏第29届富川国际漫画节。韩国时报记者白炳烈摄。

节日场地里挤满了身着色彩缤纷服装的cosplay爱好者，为开幕日营造了热闹非凡的氛围。对许多参与者来说，这次活动是一次难得的、真正展现自我的机会。

“我从中学就开始玩角色扮演游戏了，因为我喜欢它带给我的那种改变的感觉，”一位二十多岁的角色扮演者说道，她装扮成的是一位手机游戏角色。

“虽然我的服装并非严格意义上的漫画角色扮演服装，但像这样规模的活动是我在现实生活中少数几个可以自由穿着这些服装和佩戴假发的场合之一。它帮助我发现了自己不为人知的一面。”

她对电影节的筹备工作表示赞赏，例如为角色扮演者设立了专门区域，同时也对电影节的未来表达了建设性的期望。

“设施布置得井井有条，但博物馆空间本身多年来变化不大。我希望看到馆内能进一步发展，为再次参观的游客提供全新的视觉体验。”

周五，在京畿道富川市韩国漫画博物馆举行的第29届富川国际漫画节期间，希腊代表队成员身着戏服走上京畿国际角色扮演节的红毯。照片由《韩国时报》白炳烈拍摄。

开幕日的一大亮点是京畿国际Cosplay节，这项广受欢迎的配套活动今年迎来了十周年庆典。比赛共有来自14个国家的15支队伍参赛，其中包括意大利、西班牙、越南和印度尼西亚等国。他们的精彩表演赢得了观众的热烈掌声。

这项赛事的全球性深深触动了当地多元文化背景的居民。一位居住在韩国的越南妇女带着孩子前来观赛，当越南代表队登台时，她热情地欢呼起来。

“看到越南选手参加比赛，我感到无比自豪和高兴，”她说。“我和孩子们一起为他们加油，度过了一段美好的时光。”

周五，在京畿道富川市韩国漫画博物馆举行的第29届富川国际漫画节期间，越南代表队成员走过红毯，接受观众的热烈欢呼。（韩国时报，白炳烈摄）

该节日将持续到周日，活动内容丰富多彩，包括国际交流、专题展览和公共活动。

本次活动的亮点包括“连接”展览，该展览以亚洲漫画历史为主题，庆祝国际漫画家大会30周年；以及一个以武术漫画为主题的展览。此外，为庆祝韩国和法国建交140周年，本次漫画节还将举办多场由两国创作者参与的讲座。

除了展览之外，游客还可以享受互动区、户外漫画咖啡馆、街头表演和各种动手活动。